Over 7,000 visitors flock to UK's first coffee festival

Coffee fans enjoyed tastings, latte art demonstrations and workshops from the UK's top baristas and coffee experts, including celebrity chef Martin Blunos and Mike Riley, head coffee buyer at Taylors of Harrogate. Big names to take part in the event included Taylors of Harrogate, Martin Carwardine & Co, illy caffé and Whittard of Chelsea, Lavazza, Festival organiser Linda Donaldson said: "We knew that a coffee festival would be popular in Bath and are delighted that so many people came to enjoy the event and to support us. It was great to see our demonstration tent packed out over the whole weekend and people having great conversations with both big coffee brands and local independent companies. Clearly there is an appetite for coffee fans to find out more about what is arguably the nation's most popular drink. "The support of the industry was absolutely crucial in putting the Festival on and the suppliers that attended should be commended for their enthusiasm at the event. We have had very good feedback from exhibitors and sponsors with a significant number re-booking for next year. "Even while we were at the Festival our Blackberries were exploding with messages of support from the public and from those in the trade. Other countries have very large and successful coffee festivals and we are looking forward to making the event an annual one and to grow it as they have done in countries such as Australia and New Zealand." The festival took place on 15-16 May at The Recreation Ground.